In an unprecedented result Bob Willingham from Bude's photography studio, Studio Southwest has won three titles in the British institute of Professional Photography, Western region annual awards held in January 2011.

The first was the Commercial / Architectural photographer of the year for one of the photographs commissioned by Jonathan Ball, co founder of the Eden project, to capture the design philosophy of the 62sq m extension comprising a new kitchen and garden room showing the close relationship with the garden.

The second was as Journalistic photographer of the year for his photograph of Bude's Christmas day swim. The image taken from the sea showed 500 swimmers, all in swimming costumes only, charging into the sea to raise money for Bude's surf lifesaving club, watched by 1500 spectators. To get the shot Bob entered the water 5 minutes before the mad charge to make sure he was in the right spot. With air temperatures of -5 deg and snow and ice on the beach it took some time for Bob’s lower extremities to come back to life!

The third title was of Wedding photographer of the year for his photograph of Harriet Trewin of Bude and her husband Rob Numan partaking in the ancient ceremony of jumping the broom at their May wedding. The judge Russell Baston a fellow of the Institute commended Bob on his ability to have created such a great action shot with only one chance of capturing the moment.